Copyholder and paper straightener



Dec. 21 1926. 1,611,604

T. N. MARTIN COPY HOLDER AND PAPER STRAI GHTENER Filed April 1'7, 1923 va/rfar Patented Dec. 21, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,611,664 PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS N. MARTIN, OF PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-FOURTH TO 'ZENO P. RICHARDS AND FRANK M. BARRETT,

BOTH OF PORTLAND, OREGON,

COPYI-IOLDER AND PAPER STRAIGHTENER.

Application filed April 17,

This invention relates to improvements in copy-holders for the use of typistsi The object of the invention is to provide a simple, novel and convenient holder for manuscript from which the stenographer or typist is transcribing, together with easily operated means to indicate to the eye of the operator the lines of copy as she follows them down the page.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel and efiicient means to straighten the writingand carbon-papers preparatory to placing them in the machine, so that as the blank paper and the carbon paper are positioned alternately together in my improved device they will automatically fall into operative alignment and may thus be picked up and placed in the typewriting machine without further manipulation. V

It is the province of my invention to improve generally that class of devices to which it appertains, and further objects and advantages resulting therefrom will be seen in the course of the following description.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, adaptation and combination of a copyholder andpaper-straightener, and means to indicate the lines of copy manuscript, as will be fully described in the following speciiication, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally set forth in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a copyholder embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of Fig. 2.

Referring to said views, in which similar characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, the reference numeral 5 indicates a plane bed-plate comprising the body of my improved copy-holder of rectangular configuration and of any suitable material, such as sheet-metah'wood or fibrous composition.

The side walls 6 and bottom wall 7 of said bed-plate may be formed integral with the latter and extend upwardly and perpendicularly from the indicated edges and form a continuous wall thereabout with the exception of its upper edge 8. The plate and the 1923. Serial Nb. 632,675.

dimensions of the same within said walls are designed to constitute a form for the reception of paper of a certain width and which is almost universally used as a standard for business and legal manuscripts. It is de sirable that a considerable degree of accuracy should be exercised in making the said walls to size to attain the best results, so that the paper inserted within said wall-limits will have freedom to rest flat upon the bed-plate and at the same time allowthe papers to adjust themselves in alignment through concopy-holder consisting in a metal strip 12 having its upper and lower edges straight and parallel. Said liner is slidably supported at its opposite ends upon said side walls 6 through integral slides 13 of inverted U-shap'ed, or of suitable, configuration to be readily moved longitudinally along said walls and which are extended at right angles to the strip 12. Said slides are of relatively considerable length to ensure that the strip will at all times be at right angles to said side walls, to prevent cramping, and to more readily bridge the notches 10 with no likelihood of their being caught thereby or their progress downward on the work interrupted. Graduation marks 15 are provided on said strip corresponding to those on the standard type-writer for convenience in setting the stops on the machine in conformity with the copy from which the typist isworking.

A folding leg 16 is hingedly connected to the underside of said bed-plate by hinges 17 or equivalent therefor at a point spaced rearwardly of the middle of said plate whereby the plate may be set at a convenient angle. Said leg may be adjustable to vary the in: clination of the holder; a part 18 is connected to said hinge and is formed with a slot 19. A detachable leg 20 is provided with a bolt 21 arranged to protrude through said slot and is secured by a butterfly nut 22 or other suitable and quickly operated device for adjustably securing the parts together to lengthen or shorten the leg, as Will be fully understood.

From the vforegoing description of my invention the mode of using the device will be understood. lVhen positioned as indicated in the views, and when used as a copy-holder the sheets oi? manuscript Whether in loose or in bound form may be placed in the holder and will tend to straighten out and lie in most convenient position while the Work is being copied therefrom. The liner 12 may be laid upon the sheets in the operative pesition illustrated in Fig. 1 and used to indicate the several lines of copy as the operator transcrihes them. As she finishes each line, by a slight touch upon the strip 12 it will be caused to follow down the page of copy line by line and serve as a guide for the eye as it is removed from the page and then returned thereto.

When not in use the liner may be removed entirely from the holder or may be placed at the bottom thereof, as indicated in Fig. 2, Where it is out of the Way.

As a paper-straightener, the sheets of Writing and carbon paper 11 may be placed alternately and Without undue care in the holder so as to rest against the bottom Wall 7 and will thence natu ally fall into alignment in late 'al directions in adjusting itself upon the side walls 6 in a manner almost automatic. The operator may then l-ii't them out together, availing herself of the notches 10 and place them in the Writing machine in close alignment Without further arrangement.

l Vhile I have described my invention with some closeness of detail, I do not wish to he understood as confining myself to the precise construction shown, as obviously the invention may be varied in parts, and all such modifications are desired to be included in the protection afforded as are fairly Within the spirit of the invention and the scope (it the claim.

Having described my invention, what i claim, is

In a copysholdcr and paper straightener, the combination with a plane, rectangular bed-plate, Walls substantially perpendicular to said bQClrPlEltB at its bottom edge and on its opposite side edges, a notch formed in each of the side Walls and extending into said bed-plate, ot a liner strip extendi a; across said bed-plate in parallel planes then 0- to and entirely positioned below the top edges of said walls, and upstanding inverted U-shapcd side guides carried by the ends of the liner strip, said guide being formed relatively longer than the Width of the notches formed in the side walls of the bed-plate, adapted to bridge the notches when it is d-z sired to more the liner strip across the path of the hedphite. 

